Useful links

There are many useful websites on the Internet. It would be impossible for us to recommend all the good ones, but we have made a list of websites which might be of interest to you. If you come across a website that you think other people would be interested in, please let us know and we will consider adding it to the list.

Government

www.direct.gov.uk
This links to hundreds of different useful websites. It gives useful contacts, addresses and phone numbers for Government departments, public bodies, charities and voluntary organisations.

www.parliament.uk
This site gives information about the House of Commons and the House of Lords as well as links to MPs' websites.

Regulatory bodies

Advertising Standards Authority
www.asa.org.uk/asa/

The Advertising Standards Authority makes sure that advertisements keep to a recognised code. These are the people to contact if you feel an advert or promotion is misleading.

Energywatch
www.energywatch.co.uk

Energywatch regulates gas and electricity providers.

Financial Services Authority (FSA)
www.fsa.gov.uk

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is the independent regulator the Government has set up to look after the financial services industry and protect consumers.

Ofcom (Office of communications)
www.ofcom.org.uk

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the UK communications industry, covering phone, television, radio and broadband. Ofcom is also responsible for promoting competition between companies providing fixed phone lines.

Ofwat (Office of water services)
www.ofwat.gov.uk

Ofwat regulates companies that provide water and sewerage services in England and Wales.

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Glossaries and Jargon-busters

Computer and electrical product jargon explained
This site explains words commonly found in manuals and advertisements for electrical items.

Educational jargon explained
This website has an A to Z guide to jargon used in education.

Financial jargon explained
This site has a useful A to Z of financial jargon.

Legal jargon explained
This site is a BBC guide to legal words and phrases.

Medical jargon explained
This site gives a useful jargon buster with explanations of medical terms used in the NHS.

Parliamentary jargon explained
This site gives a useful glossary of political terms.

Pensions jargon explained
The FSA provide this site, which includes a jargon buster for pension terms.

Web jargon explained
This site gives a guide to using the Internet. It includes a useful jargon buster.

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Language

Ask Oxford
www.askoxford.com

This site is a useful resource that includes an on-line dictionary and tips on better writing.

Grammar
www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/

This BBC website gives tips and exercises and has sections on spelling and writing.

Thesaurus
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/thesaurus/

This site has an on-line thesaurus.

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Writing for Websites

Useit.com
www.useit.com

On this website, Jakob Nielsen, a leading expert on making websites easier to use, provides a huge amount of guidance to help you make your site accessible and user-friendly.

W3.org
www.w3.org

This site, provided by the Worldwide Web Consortium, provides guides and tips about accessible websites, and can check your website for mistakes.

Well Adjusted Campaign
www.welladjusted.org.uk

This site is provided by a pressure group which aims to make all marketing and communication accessible, by promoting its 'Ten Reasonable Adjustments'.


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